Spey Bay

This was the most straight forward route that I have walked so far. The route is about 5.5 miles long and takes under 2 hours to complete.

The whole route is made of paths that are clearly visible and it is impossible to get lost. Basically you start walking and keep walking straight until you come to Buckie, no turnings to be navigated (unless you want to go swimming :-) ). The path runs along the coast so this makes the path level, no inclines or descents to be made, just a flat path. At the start of this path you will walk along the edge of the Spey Bey Golf Course, simple. After leaving the golf course, you now have to cross the pebbled beach/banks that run along this part of the coast line, not so simple. The piles of pebbles are incredibly hard to walk on, they slide away from under your feet which can easily throw you off balance and you fall (this happened me, more than once!!) or worse you could twist your ankle. I would guess that you walk about half of the route on these pebbles. 

About the half way point, you reach the Burn of Tynet. The Burn meets the sea on the pebbled beach, not a problem when the tide is out as you can simply walk across the shallow part, the trouble lies when the tide is in. When the tide is in, you have to cross the Burn further up, for obvious reasons you can't walk across. The only way to cross it is to jump. The easiest place to jump is as close to the sea as you can get as the burn is narrower here, but you have to watch the waves and only jump when the waves are small, otherwise you will end up with wet feet! After you reach Port Gordon the paths turn from pebbles to tarmac. The rest of the route is completed on tarmac foot paths, simple. You continue to follow the coast until you come to a turning that will take you past St. Peter's Church and then straight down the middle of Buckie to the finishing point. 

This path is a good route to walk if you wish to see some of the Moray Coasts wildlife. You walk along the coast so this gives you an advantage in seeing dolphins as well as seals, however this depends on the tides. If you are walking in Port Gordon when there is a low tide you are almost guaranteed to see Seals. Dolphins are harder to see and there are no guarantees with them, although I believe that late evening is the best time to see them. No matter what time you walk along this path you are guaranteed to see birds, mainly Seagulls but you can see some other breeds as well.

                      Burn of Tynet

Pebbled Beach

                                                                    Spey Bay

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